Contending team Henan Jianye FC got back into winning form after nipping Guangzhou R&F FC, 1-0, at their home ground of Zhengzhou Hanghai Stadium last Saturday in a 2016 Chinese Super League encounter.

Filipino striker Javier Patiño scored the winning goal of the contest right at the 13th minute for Asia's Red Devils off an assist by local midfielder Mirahmetjan Muzepper, as per Soccerway. It was the second goal in 11 appearances in the Chinese domestic top flight for Patiño this season.

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The win was Henan's fifth of the current term as they remain at the fifth spot of the league table, three points behind fourth-running team Shanghai SIPG FC and a point above Shanghai Greenland Shenhua FC and Tianjin Teda FC, who are tied on points and are presently occupying the sixth and seventh spots in the overall standings.

It was also the third consecutive unbeaten effort by head coach Jia Xiuquan's boys after a close 3-4 loss to newly-promoted side Hebei China Fortune FC in round eight.

Meanwhile, it was the third straight loss for manager Dragan Stojković's side, and their sixth of the season, as the Blue Lions dropped to 10th place in the standings, Xinhuanet reported.

Guangzhou's other football club had been struggling to find their form in the first one-thirds of the season as striker imports Bruninho of Brazil and Apostolos Giannou of Australia have not been able to find the net so far in their current campaign.

The Red Devils finished last season at fifth place, a long ten points away from fourth-placed team Beijing Guoan FC and 13 points behind third-placed squad Shandong Luneng Taishan FC for the third and final AFC Champions League spot.

The team is aiming to improve their record this season, but the improvement of some of the top CSL clubs, particularly Jiangsu Suning, Hebei China Fortune, and cross-city rivals and defending champions Guangzhou Evergrande, may hinder their goal of a top three finish this time around.

Aside from Patiño, Henan is also relying on newly-acquired Swede striker Osman Sow and Brazilian attacking midfielder Ivo to improve their goal scoring this year. The other two imports of coach Jia are defenders Australia's Ryan McGowan and Denmark's Eddi Gomes. 

TagsChina Football, Chinese Super League, Chinese Super League 2016, Henan Jianye FC, Guangzhou R&F FC